FISH. 47 
and the Percide. The form is so completely that of a Serranus,—which it 
resembles especially in its dorsal fin, head, maxillary teeth, form and armature 
of the pieces of the gill cover, and in the arrangement of the scales on the body,— 
that at first sight no one would hesitate to refer it to that group; but the vomer 
and palatines are without teeth.* In this respect, indeed, I consider it an important 
discovery; as it affords another striking instance of the uncertainty of this 
character, in cases in which others, which have been generally made sub- 
ordinate to it, remain constant. It is probable that the time will come, when 
it will be found necessary to revise some portion of the Perctde and Scienide 
with reference to a more correct valuation of this character. For the present, 
however, I refrain from interfering with the Cuvierian arrangement; and the only 
alternative is to consider this as a new form among the Sci@nid@, where it must 
be placed along with those genera possessing one dorsal fin, and having seven 
rays in the branchiostegous membrane. Such are Hemulon, Pristipoma, and 
Diagramma; from all which, however, it is at once distinguished by the absence 
of pores at the symphysis and on the lower jaw, and by the much more developed 
spines on the opercle, and from Pristipoma by its having, further, scales on the 
vertical fins. On the whole, it seems to approach nearest to Hemulon; but the 
crown and snout are more free from scales than in that genus, and the scales on 
the body are not set in oblique rows, as is the case in so many of the true 
Scienide. 'The head also has no cavernous appearance about it. This new form 
is from the Galapagos Archipelago. 
PRIONODES FASCIATUS. Jen. 
Prats IX. Fig. 1. 
P. pallide flavescenti-fuscus, fasciis transversis plurimis supra rubescenti-nigris infra 
miniatis; pinnis verticalibus maculis parvis ocellatis: vertice, rostro, et maxillis, 
nudis ; preoperculo margine adscendenti denticulato, basali levi; operculo mucrone 
intermedio fortt; spinis dorsalibus ad apices lacinits investitis; pinnd caudali sub- 
aqualt. 
B75 DD, 10/12) A. s/7 3 C. 17 Po 185 V. 1s. 
Lone. unc. 7. lin. 3. 
Form.—Oval, compressed ; the back not much arched, forming one continuous curve with the 
profile, which falls gently from the nape; ventral line less convex than the dorsal. Greatest 
* With the exception of a small rough oblong spot, near the posterior extremity of the left palatine. 
